, \ 

UBRARY 
OF  TOE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  IUIN0I8. 


The  Common  Butterflies 

AN  OUTLINE  FOR  BUTTERFLY  STUDY 


ANNA  BOTSFORD  COMSTOCK 

ASSISTANT  PROFESSOR  OF  NATURE  STUDY 
CORNELL  UNIVERSITY 


The 


LIBRARY 

OF  THE 


UNIVERSITY  OF  iUiROIS 

Comstock  Publishing  Company 
Ithaca,  N.  Y. 


r 


The  Common  Butterflies 


Anna  Botsford  Comstock 


Photo  by  Dr.  R.  W.  Shufeldl 

The  Zebra  Swallowtail 

The  summer  form  showing  the  long  white-bordered  tails 


REPRINT  FROM 
THE  NATURE-STUDY  REVIEW 
SEPTEMBER,  1917 


Pholo  by  Dr.  R.  W.  Shufeldt 

Spice-bush  Swallow-tail  ( Papilio  troilus ) ; male.  (Nat.  size  on  negative).  The 
vine  is  the  Bindweed,  and  the  flowers  are  of  the  Butterfly  Milkweed. 


THE  COMMON  BUTTERFLIES 


HE  BUTTERFLIES  afford  ideal  material 
ffor  nature-study,  and  especially  for  inter- 
esting the  pupils  in  the  mastery  of  a group.  In 
almost  any  locality  outside  of  the  large  city, 
there  may  be  found  in  the  course  of  a season 
thirty  or  forty  species  of  butterflies,  and  at  least 
twenty  of  these  are  common.  Because  the 
number  is  so  small,  the  species  are  easily 
learned  and  most  of  them  may  be  identified  while  on  the  wing. 
The  teacher  should  bear  this  point  in  mind  for  it  is  a great  ad- 
vantage for  a child  to  be  able  to  identify  a creature  without  having 
to  kill  it  to  make  sure. 


In  1 906  when  the  editor  was  conducting  the  Home  Nature-Study 
Course  for  Cornell  University,  a butterfly  leaflet  was  issued  as  a 
part  of  this  course.  This  leaflet  was  very  popular  at  the  time  and 
there  are  still  many  requests  for  it  from  teachers  and  pupils  of 
many  states  although  the  leaflet  has  been  long  out  of  print. 
Therefore,  it  has  seemed  wise  to  reprint  it  with  such  additions  as 
will  make  it  applicable  to  a wider  range  than  New  York  State  for 
which  the  original  was  written. 

A pleasure  similar  to  that  afforded  by  the  sight  of  a beautiful 
flower  is  experienced  when  the  eye  rests  upon  a bright  hued  butter- 
fly. It  may  be  balancing  itself  above  its  partner  in  beauty,  the 
flower  which  gives  it  nectar,  or  it  may  be  following  the  graceful 
curves  of  its  path  in  the  air,  or  if  frightened  it  may  zigzag  by  so 
swiftly  that  the  eye  only  catches  a bit  of  moving  color;  and 
although  almost  every  one  is  attracted  by  these  beautiful  creatures, 
yet  aside  from  two  or  three  of  the  most  common  species  very  few 
people  know  their  names  or  their  habits.  Yet  each  one  of  the 
butterflies  has  a most  interesting  life-history,  and  some  of  them  are 
of  great  economic  importance. 


,217 


8 \ 4654 


218 


NA  T URE-ST UDY  RE  VIE  W [13 :6— Sept.,  1917 


THE  ECONOMIC  IMPORTANCE  OF  BUTTERFLIES 

For  the  most  part  butterflies  are  not  injurious;  although  while 
in  the  caterpillar  stage  they  feed  upon  vegetation,  most  species 


live  upon  weeds  of 
various  kinds,  and 
those  that  feed 
upon  the  leaves  of 
trees  rarely  occur 
in  such  numbers  as 
to  do  damage.  The 
cabbage  butterfly 
is  a notable  ex- 
ception; it  came 
to  us  from  Europe 
and  is  now  a wide- 
spread pest  that 
would  work  de- 


The  Black  Swallowtail 


Expanse  three  and  one-half  to  four  inches.  Color  strUction  to  the  en- 
brownish-black,  the  front  wings  spotted  with  yel- 
low, the  hind  wings  bearing  yellow  and  blue  spots,  tire  crop  of  cabbage 
There  is  a red  eye-spot  at  the  inner  angle  of  the  other  crucifer- 

hind  wing. 


ous  garden  plants 


if  left  alone.  The  caterpillars  of  the  black  swallowtail  occasionally 
occur  in  sufficient  numbers  to  damage  celery,  and  the  young  of  the 
giant  swallowtail  do  injury  to  the  foliage  of  orange  trees;  occa- 
sionally the  caterpillars  of  the  mourning  cloak  do  some  damage  to 
elms.  However,  all  butterfly  caterpillars  are  easily  gotten  rid  of 
by  spraying  the  foliage  on  which  they  are  feeding  with  poisoned 
water.  The  benefits  conferred  by  butterflies  are  only  partially 
known  and  little  appreciated.  Very  many  flowers  depend  upon 
butterflies  for  carrying  and  bringing  pollen.  The  black  swallow- 
tail is  especially  beneficent  in  this  respect.  A large  number  of  the 
species  assist  in  cross  pollinating  the  flowers  of  the  plants  on  which 
their  young  feed  and  thus  they  pay  back  their  debt.  One  little 
radical,  the  wanderer,  has  departed  from  the  traditions  of  the 
butterfly  family;  its  caterpillar  feeds  upon  plant  lice  and  thus  is 
very  helpful. 


THE  COMMON  BUTTERFLIES 


219 


THE  LIFE  HISTORY  OF  A BUTTERFLY 

The  life-history  consists  of  four  stages : 

First. — The  eggs  which 
are  laid  upon  the  food 
plant  by  the  mother  but- 
terfly; these  eggs  are  often 
exquisite  in  color  and  beau- 
tifully ribbed  and  pitted  so 
that  when  seen  through  the 
microscope  they  look  like 
gems. 

Second. — The  caterpillars 
which  hatch  from  these  eggs 
and  which  feed  upon  the 
food  plant  until  fully  developed.  Before  reaching  its  full  growth, 

the  caterpil- 
lar sheds  its 
skeleton- skin 
four  or  five 
times;  often 
this  change  of 
skin  makes  a 
change  in  the 
appearance 
and  in  the 
color  of  the 
caterpillar. 
Third. — The 
pupa  state  or 

Caterpillar  of  Black  Swallowtail  in  two  stages  of  growth.  , ■.  • 

The  larger  one  has  the  scent  organs  protruding.  cnrysaiis. 

When  the 

caterpillar  is  full  grown  it  sheds  its  old  skin  and  appears  in  a very 
different  form,  that  of  the 
chrysalis  or  pupa.  The 
pupae  of  the  butterflies  are 
never  protected  by  a cocoon  as 
are  the  pupae  of  moths.  This 
is  one  of  the  chief  differences 

between  moths  and  butter-  Chrysalis  of  Black  Swallowtail 


Eggs  of  Black  Swallowtail,  enlarged. 


220 


NATURE-STUDY  REVIEW  [13:6 — Sept.,  1917 


flies.  The  caterpillar,  before  it  changes  to  a pupa,  makes  a button 
of  silk  and  sometimes  also  a loop  of  silk  by  which  the  pupa  is  sus- 
pended. As  the  insect  when  in  the  pupa  or  chrysalis  state  is 
helpless  and  unable  to  move,  it  is,  therefore,  an  easy  prey  to  birds 
and  other  enemies;  thus  the  chrysalis  is  usually  inconspicuous  and 
placed  in  some  position  where  it  is  not  easily  detected  by  even  the 
keenest  eyes. 

Fourth. — After  a time  the  pupa  skin  is  shed  and  from  this  comes 
the  winged  insect  in  all  its  beauty  of  color  and  form. 


HOW  TO  STUDY  THE  BUTTERFLIES 


The  caterpillars  may  be  found  on  their  food  plant  and  reared 
indoors.  This  requires  a great  deal  of  care  in  providing  fresh  food 
and  in  looking  after  the  wants  of  the  little 
prisoners.  This  is  the  best  way  to  study 
the  insects,  as  we  thus  become  acquainted 
with  the  caterpillar  and  its  habits  and  also 
the  chrysalis;  and  when  finally  the  winged 
insect  emerges  we  may  become  familiar 
with  its  colors  and  markings  before  we  set 
it  free  to  carry  on  its  work  of  perpetuating 
the  species  and  of  carrying  pollen  for  the 
flowers. 

Or  we  may  catch  a butterfly  with  a net 
without  injuring  it  and  let  it  loose  in  the 
room  where  we  can  study  it  at  close  range 
and  get  thoroughly  acquainted  with  its 
size,  form  and  colors.  This  is  an  excellent 
way. 

The  most  common  way  of  studying 
these  insects  but  perhaps  not  necessarily 
the  best,  is  to  make  a collection  of  but- 
terflies. This  involves  the  catching  of  the 
insects  in  a net,  and  killing  them  in  a cyanide 
bottle,  or  by  pinching  the  thorax,  and  then 
spreading  the  wings  carefully,  letting  them 
dry  extended,  and  then  placing  the  speci- 
mens in  a box  for  safe  keeping.  Every  beginner  experiences 
great  trouble  in  keeping  such  specimens  free  from  the  little  pests 


lllliil 

Spreading  Board 


THE  COMMON  BUTTERFLIES 


221 


which  destroy  them.  The  boxes  of  insects  in  any  museum  have  to 
be  looked  over  carefully  every  month  and  such  as  are  infested 
treated  with  the  deadly  fumes  of  some  gas.  Undoubtedly  the  best 
and  cheapest  way  for  amateurs  to  mount  their  insects  in  permanent 
form  is  to  use  the  Riker  mounts  which  consist  of  shallow  cardboard 
boxes  with  glass  covers  and  filled  with  cotton.  The  size  of  box 
large  enough  for  most  of  our  butterflies  costs  fifteen  cents  each,  and 
they  come  in  cases,  a dozen  in  a case.  The  butterfly  is  spread  and 
placed  on  the  cotton,  the  cover  put  on  and  sealed  with  gum  paper 
and  the  specimen  is  safe  for  all  time.  As  there  is  a box  for  each, 
any  specimen  may  be  passed  around  and  studied  by  itself. 

Such  a collection  of  butterflies  is  a great  help  to  a teacher  as  she 
is  thus  able  to  bring  a page  from  nature’s  book  into  the  schoolroom 
for  the  pupil’s  enjoyment  and  enlightenment, 
means  advise  that  the  pupils  themselves 
make  a collection  of  insects,  or  that  they 
be  encouraged  to  do  so. 

While  we  do  not  advise  the  children  to 
make  collections  of  insects  our  reasons  for 
doing  so  are  based  quite  as  much  upon  other 
grounds  as  upon  that  of  developing  cruelty 
in  the  child.  The  taking  of  life  of  the  lower 
animals  is  a matter  that  had  best  not  be 
too  much  dwelt  upon  before  children,  for 
we  cannot  be  consistent  in  our  teaching 
and  they  soon  discover  it.  For  who  shall 
say  that  the  cat  which  catches  and  eats  the 
robin  is  more  culpable  than  the  person  who 
eats  lamb  chop  for  breakfast,  thus  sacrific- 
ing the  life  of  an  innocent  and  playful 
creature  to  satisfy  his  appetite?  And  in  the  wider  view  of 
the  Creator  and  his  creatures,  the  life  of  a butterfly  is  no  more 
sacred  than  that  of  the  housefly  or  a mosquito.  It  is  far  safer 
to  let  these  questions  alone  in  our  teaching  and  cultivate  in  the 
child  an  interest  in  the  lives  of  the  lower  animals,  thus  bringing  him 
into  kindly  relations  with  his  little  neighbors  of  the  field,  so  that  he 
will  naturally  respect  their  rights.  It  is  the  boy  who  knows  the 
birds  and  loves  them,  who  will  not  shoot  them;  it  is  the  child  who 
knows  the  butterfly  by  name  and  something  of  its  interesting  habits 
who  will  refrain  from  crushing  the  life  out  of  its  fragile  body. 


However,  we  by  no 


A Breeding  Cage 


222 


NATURE-STUDY  REVIEW 


[13:6— Sept.,  1917 


We  cannot  eradicate  cruelty  by  punishment  or  repression;  but 
we  may  crowd  it  out  of  the  child’s  character,  by  putting  in  its  place 
little  by  little  the  humane  and  tender  sentiments  which  inevitably 
follow  a knowledge  of  the  life  and  habits  of  even  the  lowest  creature. 

FIFTY  COMMON  BUTTERFLIES 

In  the  following  descriptions  the  measurement  of  the  butterfly  is 
made  across  the  spread  wings  from  tip  to  tip ; unfortunately,  it  was 
not  practicable  to  have  the  pictures  of  all  the  butterflies  natural 
size.  It  must  be  borne  in  mind  that  individual  butterflies  of  the 
same  species  may  vary  in  size  somewhat.  When  the  size  of  the 
caterpillar  is  given  it  means  the  fully  grown  larva  just  before  it 
changes  to  a pupa. 

THE  SWALLOWTAILS 

These  are  large  handsome  butterflies  and  get  their  name  because 
of  the  prolongation  of  the  hind  wings  in  a manner  suggesting  the 
tail-feathers  of  a swallow.  The  caterpillars  have  a pair  of  scent 
organs  just  back  of  the  head,  which  they  can  thrust  out  at  will. 
These  are  supposed  to  protect  them  from  the  attacks  of  birds  by 
rendering  them  disagreeable  to  smell  and  probably  to  taste. 


The  Tiger  Swallowtail 

Expanse,  three  and  one-half  to  four  inches.  Colors  pale 
straw-yellow  marked  with  black.  On  the  hind  wing 
near  the  inner  angle  are  blue  and  red  spots. 


THE  COMMON  BUTTERFLIES 


223 


The  Tiger  Swallowtail. — This  magnificent  creature  flies  about 
leisurely  and  is  fond  of  strong  odors  whether  they  be  fragrant  or 
otherwise.  It  is  especially  fond  of  to-  # 

bacco  smoke  and  will  often  be  seen 
following  in  the  wake  of  a smoker. 

The  caterpillar  has  large  eye-spots  on 
the  thorax,  and  it  has  a pretty  habit  of 
making  a silken,  spring  mattress  to  rest 
upon  when  it  is  not  eatiilg ; it  makes  this 
by  weaving  the  web  of  silk  across  the 
leaf  pulling  the  edges  of  the  leaf  slightly 
together.  Food  plants,  ash,  birch  and 
poplar. 

The  Black  Swallowtail. — This  graceful 
insect  is  often  found  about  our  houses 
visiting  the  flower  gardens.  It  is  one 
of  the  most  important  pollen  carriers 

among  the  butterflies.  The  male  is  Caterpiilar  ?f  the  Tiger 

Swallow-tail  resting  on 
its  silken  mattress. 


smaller  than  the 
female,  and  has 
two  complete 
rows  of  yellow 
spots  on  both 
wings.  The  cat- 
erpillar is  mostly 
black  and  spiny 
when  young  but 
later  it  is  adorned 
with  green  and 
black  crosswise 
stripes,  the  black 
stripes  enclosing 
six  yellow  spots. 

The  Giant  Swallowtail  Food  plants, 

This  greatest  North  American  butterfly  has  an  expanse  of  caraway,  pars- 
five  and  one-half  inches.  It  is  black  and  marked  with  celery  and 

yellow  bands  diagonally  across  the  wings  and  near  the  ; ’ 
outer  border.  Wild  carrot. 


224 


NATURE-STUDY  REVIEW  [13:6— Sept.,  1917 


The  Giant  Swallowtail. — This  is  the  largest  butterfly  in  North 
America.  It  is  a southern  species  and  its  caterpillars  attack  the 

leaves  of  citrus  fruits.  It  is  a 
disagreeable  looking  creature, 
colored  to  imitate  bird  lime, 
and  when  disturbed,  erects 
its  head,  throws  out  its  scent 
horns  and  fills  the  whole 
neighborhood  with  an  almost 
unbearable  stench.  It  also 
feeds  upon  prickly  ash  and 
lombardy  poplar  and  is  some- 
times found  in  the  North. 


Caterpillar  of  Giant  Swallowtail. 


The  butterfly  is  magnificent  and  creates  the  greatest  excitement 
when  it  appears  in  the  Northern  States  as  it  sometimes  does  in 
late  summer. 

The  Zebra  Swallowtail. — The  wings  of  the  zebra  are  barred  with 
blackish  and  greenish  white  which  make  it  a striking  butterfly. 
The  length  of  its  graceful 
tails  is  dependent  upon 
the  lateness  of  the  sum- 
mer. It  is  common  in  the 
Southern  States  where  it 
goes  through  several  gen- 
erations each  year.  The 
caterpillar  feeds  upon 
pawpaw,  spicebush  and 
huckleberry. 

The  Green-clouded  Swal- 
lowtail.— The  wings  are 
black;  the  front  wings 
with  a row  of  pale  straw 

colored  spots  near  the  . The  Zebra  Swallowtail 

, ,i  i The  wings  are  barred  with  blackish  and  greenish 

outer  margin,  tne  nma  white.  Near  the  base  of  each  tail-like  pro- 
wings are  powdered  with  longation  of  the  wings  is  a blood  red  spot,  and 
yellow -green  or  blue-  beyond  this  are  two  purplish  blue  crescents. 

green  scales  and  each  bears  an  orange  spot  at  the  middle  of  its  front 
edge  and  one  at  the  hind  angle.  Six  pale  crescents  form  an  inside 
border  to  the  hind  wing.  The  tails  to  the  wings  are  paddle- 
shaped and  rather  short.  The  caterpillar  feeds  upon  spicebush 


THE  COMMON  BUTTERFLIES 


225 


and  sassafras.  It  has  eye  spots  on  its  thorax.  This  species  is 
common  in  the  Southern  States. 

The  Blue  Swallowtail. — This  is  another  black  velvety  butterfly 
with  a blue  shimmering  sheen  playing  over  its  wings  in  the  sun- 
shine. The  fringe  on  the  outer  margin  of  its  wings  is  alternately 
black  and  white  and  each  wing  may  have  a row  of  whitish  spots 
just  inside  the  border.  The  expanse  of  wings  is  from  three  and  one- 
half  to  four  and  one-half  inches.  Its  caterpillars  feed  upon  Dutch- 
man’s Pipe,  Virginia  snake-root,  and  black  bindweed.  It  is  a 
common  species  in  the  South  and  might  be  taken  for  the  green- 
clouded  species  except  that  it  has  no  orange  spots  on  the  hind 
wings. 

THE  PIERIDS 


THE  WHITES 

The  Cabbage  Butterfly. — This  is  the  white  butterfly  common  near 
every  garden  in  which  grows  cabbage  or  its  near  relatives.  We 


had  native  species  of  cabbage 
butterflies  which  did  compara- 
tively little  damage  to  gardens, 
although  they  were  found  quite 
commonly  prior  to  1 8 70 ; but  this 
emigrant  Pieris  rapce  came  to  us 
from  Europe  getting  its  foothold 
in  New  York  State  in  1868. 
Now  it  has  driven  out  all  of 
our  native  species;  they  have 
literally  taken  to  the  woods  and 
are  found  only  occasionally  flit- 
ting about  the  wild  cruciferous 
plants.  The  velvety-green  cat- 
erpillar of  the  cabbage  butterfly 
is  very  destructive  and  is  well 
known.  It  feeds  on  other  cruci- 
ferous garden-plants  but  pre- 
fers cabbage. 


The  Cabbage  Butterfly 


Expanse  an  inch  and  three-quarters. 
Color  white  with  black  spots.  Male 
above,  female  below. 


THE  ORANGE-TIPS 

The  orange-tips  are  seldom  seen;  they  are  smallish  white 
butterflies  marked  with  black  and  have  the  lower  sides  of  the  wings 


226 


NATURE-STUDY  REVIEW  [13:6— Sept.,  1917 

marbled  and  netted  with  green.  Many  of  the  species,  especially 
the  males,  have  the  front  wings  tipped  with  orange  which  gives 
them  the  name.  Most  of  the  species  are  found  in  the  far  West, 
only  two  are  occasionally  found  in  the  East. 

The  Flacate  Orange-Tip. — This  butterfly  has  the  apex  of  the 
front  wings  prolonged  into  a hook  shaped  point.  Only  the  males 
have  the  front  wings  tipped  with  orange.  The  caterpillar  feeds  on 
cress,  shepherd’s  purse  and  other  crucifers. 

THE  YELLOWS 

The  Roadside  Butterfly — This  is  the  most  common  repre- 
sentative that  we  have  of  the  yellows,  and  it  may  be  seen  in  the 

summer  in  great  numbers  flit- 
ting above  the  flowers  of  our 
roadsides,  or  settled  for  a social 
drink  about  some  mud  puddle 
in  the  road.  Its  caterpillar  is 
small,  green  in  color,  and  feeds 
on  clover,  vetch,  lupine,  etc. 
It  is  so  well  concealed  by  color 
that  it  is  rarely  found. 

The  Sleepy  Yellow. — This 
butterfly  has  a wing  expanse 
of  not  quite  two  inches.  Its 
wings  are  bordered  with  a 
broad  black  band  and  the 
dark  spot  in  front  of  the  middle  of  the  front  wing  extends 
up  and  down  and  is  a mere  line,  looking  like  a closed  eye.  The 
caterpillars  feed  upon  cassia,  clover  and  senna.  The  species  is 
common  in  the  Southern  States. 

The  Dog's  Head. — The  wide  black  border  on  the  front  wing  of 
this  butterfly  outlines  on  the  yellow  a head  that  resembles  that  of  a 
duck  quacking  more  than  that  of  any  dog.  However,  the  picture 
on  the  wing  of  the  female  is  slightly  like  the  profile  of  a poodle’s 
head.  The  black  spot  forms  a large  and  startling  eye.  The  cater- 
pillar feeds  upon  false  indigo  and  clover.  This  species  is  abundant 
in  the  south  western  United  States  and  Pacific  Coast.  Its  wing 
expanse  is  about  two  and  one-half  inches. 

The  Little  Sulphur. — This  is  a pocket  edition  of  the  roadside 
butterfly,  marked  like  it  except  that  it  has  a dot  instead  of  a spot 


The  Roadside  Butterfly 


Expanse,  one  and  three-fourths  to  two 
inches.  Color  bright,  sulphur-yellow. 
Wings  bordered  with  blackish.  Spot 
on  the  fore  wing  black  and  on  the 
v hind  wing  orange-yellow. 


THE  COMMON  BUTTERFLIES 


227 

on  the  front  wing.  Its  expanse  is  less  than  one  and  one-half 
inches.  It  is  common  in  the  Southern  States  and  northward.  Its 
caterpillar  feeds  upon  cassia  and  other  legumes,  preferring  the  fine- 
leaved varieties. 

The  Orange  Sulphur. — This  species  resembles  the  roadside 
butterfly  in  size  and  markings  but  is  orange  instead  of  lemon  yellow. 
It  is  found  abundantly  in  the  Mississippi  Valley.  Its  caterpillars 
feed  upon  clover,  vetch,  etc. 

The  Cloudless  Sulphur. — This  splendid  butterfly,  the  most 
beautiful  of  all  the  yellows,  has  an  expanse  of  two  and  one-half 
inches  and  looks  like  a California  poppy  floating  off  its  stem.  The 
male  is  pure  yellow  with  no  markings,  but  the  female  has  just  a 
suggestion  of  black  border  on  the  outer  edge  of  her  wings  and  a 
black  spot  in  front  of  the  middle  of  each  front  wing.  It  is  a com- 
mon species  in  the  Southern  States,  and  late  in  the  season  pushes 
northward.  The  caterpillars  feed  upon  cassia  and  other  legumes. 

THE  NYMPHS 

THE  FRITILLARIES  OR  CHECKER-BOARD  BUTTERFLIES 

These  are  reddish-brown  butterflies  with  many  black  spots  on 
the  upper  sides  of  the  wings  giving  them  a checkered  appearance; 
and  with  many  silver  spots  on  the  lower  sides  of  the  wings.  When 
we  were  children  we  used  to  call  these  round,  silver  spots  “ butterfly 
money,”  and  it  was  one  of  our  pastimes  to  gently  seize  one  of  these 
butterflies  when  we  found  it  sucking  nectar  from  some  thistle 
blossom  and  count  its  money  before  we  let  it  go. 

The  Gulf  Fritillary. — This  is  a bright  copper  butterfly  that  bears 
some  resemblance  to  the  monarch  since  its  veins  in  the  outer  por- 
tions of  the  wing  are  black.  It  has  an  expanse  of  two  and  one-half 
to  three  inches.  It  can  always  be  distinguished  from  other  butter- 
flies by  the  form  of  the  silver  spots  on  the  lower  side  of  the  wing 
which  are  bar-shaped  rather  than  coin-  or  crescent-shaped.  The 
caterpillars  are  spiny  and  feed  upon  the  leaves  of  the  passion  flower. 
The  species  is  found  in  the  South  from  the  Atlantic  to  the  Pacific. 

The  Regal  Fritillary. — This  is  the  most  magnificent  of  all  the 
fritillaries,  having  an  expanse  of  from  three  and  one-half  to  four 
inches.  Its  front  wings  are  copper  color  with  dark  borders,  but  its 
hind  wings  are  black  with  yellowish  or  light  spots.  Underneath, 
the  front  wings  are  orange  and  the  hind  wings  are  a rich  olive  brown 


228 


NATURE-STUDY  REVIEW  [13:6— Sept.,  1917 


ornamented  with  nearly  thirty  large  silvery  white  spots.  While  in 
general  it  resembles  the  great  spangled  fritillary  and  the  silver-spot, 
the  black  hind  wings  distinguish  it  from  these  species. 


The  Great  Spangled  Fritillary 
Expanse  about  three  inches.  Color  orange  (which  fades  to  a 
dull  brown  late  in  the  season)  marked  with  black,  the  wings 
shading  to  brown  next  to  the  body.  Undersides  of  the 
wings  of  the  Great  Spangled  at  the  left;  of  the  Silver  Spot 
at  the  right. 


The  Great  Spangled  Fritillary  and  the  Silver  Spot  Fritillary. — 
These  two  are  of  the  same  size  and  marked  very  similarly.  The 
only  way  to  distinguish  the  two  species  is  to  study  the  lower  side 
of  the  hind  wings ; in  the  great  spangled  species  there  is  a broad,  buff 
band  inside  the  silver  spots  that  border  the  wings ; it  is  one-fourth  as 
broad  as  the  wing  itself.  This  band  is  very  much  narrower  in  the 
silver  spot.  The  caterpillars  of  these  species  are  velvety  black  and 
spiny,  and  feed  on  the  leaves  of  violets. 


THE  COMMON  BUTTERFLIES 


229 


The  Variegated  Fritillary. 

— This  is  another  southern 
species  and  it  has  the  real 
fritillary  markings  on  the 
upper  sides  of  the  wings; 
there  are  no  silver  spots  on 
the  lower  sides  of  the  wings 
which  are  marbled  with 
brown  and  white.  It  has 
awing  expanse  of  two  and 
one-half  inches.  Its  cater- 
pillar is  thorny  and  feeds 
upon  passion  flower,  mandrake,  violet  and  some  other  plants. 

The  Silver  Bordered  Fritillary  and  the  Meadow  Fritillary. — These 
are  two  little  fritillaries  which  resemble  each  other  very  much,  but 

may  be  easily  separated  by  the 
fact  that  the  silver  bordered  has 
the  silver  spots  on  the  lower  side 
of  the  hind  wings,  while  the 
meadow  has  not  a butterfly  dollar 
on  its  wings  anywhere.  The  cat  er- 
pillars  of  these  species  are  small, 
mottled  green  and  spiny.  They 
feed  upon  violets. 

THE  CRESCENT  SPOTS 

The  Silver  Crescent  and  the  Pearl 
Crescent. — These  are  two  little 
butterflies  which  may  be  distin- 
guished from  other  orange-yellow, 
small  butterflies  because  there  is 
so  much  of  brown  or  black  ugon 
the  wings  that  it  is  hard  to  tell 
whether  that  or  the  orange  is  the 
ground  color.  The  lower  sides 
Silver  Borderfd  Fritillary  of  the  wings  are  much  paler  than 

above;  Meadow  Fritillary,  below,  above  and  are  marked  with  vari- 
Expanse,  one  and  three-quarters  . 

inches.  Color  orange-yellow  spot-  oussnadesof  yellow  in  most  com- 

ted  with  black  The  underside  pHcated  patterns.  The  cater- 
of  wings  shows  the  meadow  at 

the  right.  pillars  of  these  species  are  black 


The  Variegated  Fritillary 
The  wings  are  copper  red  crossed  near  the 
center  with  a paler  band  and  the  mark- 
ings are  blackish;  no  silver  spots  on 
lower  side  of  wings. 


230 


NATURE-STUDY  REVIEW  [13:6— Sept , 1917 


marked  with  yellow  or  orange, 
spiny,  and  feed  on  sunflowers, 
asters  and  other  composite  plants. 

The  Baltimore. — Thisisanother 
crescent  spot,  but  is  very  strik- 
ing in  appearance.  It  is  found 
near  swampy  places.  Its  cater- 
pillar is  black  and  orange  banded 
and  striped  and  spiny.  The 
caterpillars  of  one  brood  live 
together  like  a happy  family, 


The  Baltimore 

Expanse  two  inches.  Color  black  with 
outer  marginal  row  of  reddish-orange 
spots  and  two  parallel  rows  of  very 
pale  yellow  spots. 


Pearl  Crescent, 

Silver  Crescent. 

Expanse  one  and  one-half  inches. 
Color  orange-yellow  with  black 
markings. 

weaving  leaves  around  them- 
selves for  protection;  a queer 
thing  about  them  is  that 
during  late  summer  the  whole 
brood  suddenly  stops  eating 
voluntarily  and  waits  for  win- 
ter to  pass,  although  sur- 


rounded by  plenty  of  food.  The  food  is  snakehead. 


THE  ANGLE  WINGS 

These  butterflies  are  so  called  because  the  edges  of  their  wings 


look  as  if  they  were  cut  in 
charp  notches  and  scalloped 
with  a pair  of  scissors;  they 
are  among  our  most  interest- 
ing and  beautiful  butterflies. 

The  American  T ortoise  Shell. 
— This  striking  butterfly  some- 
times passes  the  winter  as  an 
adult  and  sometimes  as  a 
chrysalis.  Its  caterpillar  is 
black  with  greenish  sides  and 
sprinkled  with  white  raised 


The  American  Tortoise  Shell 
Expanse  two  inches.  Wings  blackish 
crossed  by  a broad  band  of  orange 
brown  which  shades  to  yellow  on 
the  inner  side. 


THE  COMMON  BUTTERFLIES 


231 


spots;  it  is  spiny.  The  caterpillars  of  the  same  brood  live 
together  feeding  on  the  lower  sides  of  the  leaves  which  they  fasten 
together  making  a protective  abode.  The  food  plant  is  nettle. 

The  Compton 
Tortoise.  — This 
butterfly  resem- 
bles very  much 
the  polygonias 
even  having  the 
‘ embroidered” 
initial  on  the 
lower  side  of  the 
hind  wings. 

However,  it  dif- 
fers in  one  par- 
ticular.  The 
hind  margin  of 
the  front  wings  is 
straight  and  not 

incurved.  Its  caterpillar  is  greenish  in  color  more  or  less  speckled 
with  lighter  color.  It  has  black,  bristly  spines  and  the  caterpillars  of 
the  same  brood  feed  in  a flock.  The  food  plants  are  birch  and  willow. 

The  Mourning 
Cloak. — This  but- 
terfly which  is  well 
known  in  Europe  is 
very  common  here. 
It  winters  as  a but- 
terfly and  is  the 
earliest  of  all  our 
butterflies  to  ap- 
pear in  the  spring. 
Its  caterpillar  is 
velvety  black  cov- 

The  Mourning  Cloak  ered  with  white 

Expanse  two  and  one-half  to  three  and  one-half  . A A A 

inches.  Color  purplish-brown  appearing  black  raised  dots,  and  a 
when  flying.  The  wings  have  a broad,  yellow  row  of  red  spots 
border  sprinkled  with  brown  and  just  inside  the  , ...  . j r 

border  a row  of  blue  or  lavender  spots.  along  the  middle  ot 

the  back.  It  has 

rows  of  black  spines.  It  feeds  on  elm,  willow,  poplar  and  other  trees. 


The  Compton  Tortoise 

Expanse  two  and  one-half  inches,  mottled  with  dark  red 
and  ochre  yellow,  like  the  colors  of  a tortoise  shell. 
A white  spot  is  on  the  front  of  each  wing  near  the  tip. 
The  hind  wings  on  the  lower  side  each  bear  a small 
L-shaped  silvery  or  white  mark. 


232 


NATURE-STUDY  REVIEW  [13:6— Sept.,  1917 


The  Buckeye. — This  is  a 

southern  butterfly  that  pushes 

northward  late  in  the  season. 

It  has  two  eye  spots  on  each 

front  and  hind  wing,  a large 

one  and  a small  one.  The 

small  one  on  the  front  wing  is 

“Boo!”  often  indistinct.  Its  general 

The  Buckeye  . . , £ 

color  is  brown  with  a tew 

copper  red  markings;  there  is  diagonal  yellow  band  across  each 

front  wing.  A very  similar  species  is  common  on  the  Pacific  Coast. 

The  caterpillar  is  dark  gray  with  lengthwise  yellow  stripes  and 

spotted  with  yellow  and  orange.  It  is  ornamented  with  branching 

spines.  It  feeds  upon  gerardin,  figworts,  snapdragon  and  plantain. 


THE  THISTLE  BUTTERFLIES 


Three  of  the  angle  wings  are  caked  the  thistle  butterflies  because 
they  are  particularly  fond  of  the  nectar  of  thistle  blossoms,  and 
each  one  bears  on  the  lower  side  of  the  wings  a band  of  rich  rose- 
color,  which  well  matches  the  color  of  the  thistle  flowers. 


The  Red  Admiral. — 

This  is  one  of  our  most 
striking  and  beautiful 
butterflies.  The  wings 
beneath  are  beautifully 
mottled  and  the  front 
wings  bear  a diagonal 
band  of  rich  rose-red. 

Its  caterpiller  is  dull 
yellow,  mottled  with 
black  with  a yellow 
stripe  along  the  side; 
it  has  many  spines.  It 
feeds  upon  nettles  and 
hops. 

The  Painted  Beauty  and  the  Cosmopolite. — These  two  species 
resemble  each  other  very  much ; each  has  the  hind  half  of  the  front 
wing  colored  rose-pink  on  the  lower  side ; on  the  hind  wing  of  the 
painted  beauty  are  two  eyespots  while  on  the  cosmopolite  there  are 
five  or  six  smaller  ones  in  a row.  The  caterpillar  of  the  painted 


The  Red  Admiral 

Expanse  a little  less  than  two  and  one-half 
inches.  Color  purplish-black  with  white 
spots  near  the  tips  of  the  front  wings. 
Orange-red  band  across  front  wings  and 
bordering  middle  part  of  hind  wings. 


THE  COMMON  BUTTERFLIES 


233 


beauty  is  velvety  black  with  cross  lines  of  yellow  and  with  a row 
of  white  spots  on  each  side  back  of  the  middle.  It  has  bristly 


The  Painted  Beauty,  above,  The  Cosmopolite,  below, 
showing  under  sides  of  wings  at  the  right. 

Expanse  of  wings  about  two  and  one-half  inches. 


spines;  it  feeds  upon  everlasting  and  allied  plants.  The  cosmo- 
polite caterpillar  is  mottled,  greenish-yellow  with  black  and  yellow 
stripes  along  the  side.  It  has  bristling  yellow  spines ; its  food  plants 
are  thistle,  willow  and  everlasting.  The  cosmopolite  has  the 
widest  distribution  of  any  of  our  butterfly  species.  It  is  found  in 
every  part  of  the  world  except  South  America  and  the  Arctic 
regions. 

THE  POLYGONS 

These  are  distinguished  from  the  other  butterflies  not  only  by 
the  sharp  notches  and  angles  of  the  edges  of  the  wings,  but  also  by 
having  the  hind  margin  of  the  front  wing  cut  out  in  a graceful 
curve.  Each  species  has  on  the  lower  side  of  the  hind  wing  near 
the  center  an  initial  or  punctuation  mark  wrought  in  silver,  this 
mark  varying  with  the  species.  The  flight  of  the  polygons  is  very 


234 


NATURE-STUDY  REVIEW  [13:6— Sept.,  1917 


erratic ; they  dash  about  making  quick  angles  so  that  the  eye  cannot 
follow  them.  While  the  upper  sides  of  the  wings  are  bright  orange 
red  and  quite  striking,  the  lower  sides  of  the  wings  are  mottled  in 
dull  colors  so  that  they  resemble  dead  leaves  or  grass.  All  one  of 
these  butterflies  has  to  do  to  become  invisible  when  resting  on  the 
ground,  is  to  close  its  wings  above  its  back,  and  it  is  then  almost 
impossible  for  the  eye  to  detect  it.  The  Violet  Tip. — 

This  is  the  largest 
of  the  polygons  and 
the  most  graceful 
in  form  of  all  but- 
terflies. It  winters 
as  an  adult.  The 
caterpillar  is  yel- 
lowish-brown with 
irregular  spots  and 
marks  of  lighter 
color.  It  has  many 
branching  spines, 
one  pair  being  on 
the  top  of  the  head. 
It  feeds  on  elm, 
hop,  nettle,  linden 
and  hackberry. 

The  Hop  Merchant. — This  looks  on  the  upper  side  like  a dwarf 
violet  tip,  for  the  margins  of  the  wings  are  tinged  with  violet.  It 
hibernates  as  a butterfly 
and  is  one  of  the  earliest 
that  we  see  in  the  woods 
in  the  spring.  Its  cater- 
pillar is  about  an  inch 
long,  dark  brown  or 
greenish  with  blotches 
and  lines  and  adorned 
with  thorny  spines  one 
pair  of  which  is  on  the 

head.  It  feeds  on  hops,  The  Hop  Merchant 

. mi  Expanse  two  inches.  Color  bright  orange-red 

nettle  and  elm.  1 he  with  black  spots.  The  borders  of  the 
chrysalis  is  a beautiful  wings  dark  brown  shading  off  to  violet  at  the 
...  , i -,i  margin.  The  “initial”  on  the  lower  side 

Object  ornamented  with  of  the  hind  wings  is  like  a badly  made  G. 


The  Violet  Tip 

Expanse  two  and  one-half  to  three  inches.  Color 
rich  orange  red  spotted  with  black.  The  margins 
of  the  wings  and  tails  violet  color.  The  hind 
wing  bearing  a large  silver  semicolon  on  the 
lower  side,  shown  at  the  right. 


THE  COMMON  BUTTERFLIES 


235 


knobs  that  shine  like  the  precious  metals.  There  is  a superstition 
that  if  these  knobs  are  golden  the  price  of  hops  will  be  high;  if 
they  are  silver,  the  price  will  be  low. 

The  Green  Comma.— ^ This  always  hibernates  as  a butterfly.  It 
may  be  distinguished  from  the  gray  comma,  which  it  very  much 
resembles,  by  the  green  tinge  quite  noticeable  in  the  darker  mark- 
ings of  the  upper  side  of  wing,  and  by  the  amount  of  olive  green 
and  the  very  different  pattern  on  the  lower  side  of  the  wings,  and  a 
quite  different  initial  which  is  much  like  that  of  the  hop  merchant. 
Its  caterpillar  is  a little  more  than  an  inch  long,  reddish  or  yellowish 
in  color  with  a large  patch  of  white  on  its  back.  Its  branching 
spines  are  light  colored.  It  eats  the  leaves  of  black  birch,  willow, 
alder,  currant  and  gooseberry. 

The  Gray  Comma. — This  butterfly  always  hibernates  as  an  adult 
and  appears  early  in  the  spring.  It  especially  frequents  orchards. 


The  Gray  Comma 

Expanse  about  two  inches.  Color  orange-red  with  black 
spots  brownish  borders  to  the  wings.  The  under  sides  of 
the  wings  are  “pepper  and  salt”  arranged  in  wavy  lines. 

The  “initial”  a delicate  wide-angled  L. 

Its  caterpillar  attains  the  length  of  an  inch  and  has  a body  yellow- 
ish-brown marked  with  greenish-black.  It  has  many  branched 
spines  one  pair  being  on  tjie  head.  It  feeds  on  currant,  gooseberry, 
and  elm. 

THE  SOVEREIGNS 

These  butterflies  are  noted  for  the  very  interesting  habits  of  the 
caterpillar  which  are  omitted  here.  The  caterpillars  when  fully 
grown  are  so  covered  with  humps  that  they  look  most  grotesque. 
On  the  front  end  of  the  body  is  borne  a pair  of  tiny  tubercles  that 
look  like  pompons.  The  chrysalis  has  a projection  which  resem- 
bles a Roman  nose. 


23G 


NATURE-STUDY  REVIEW 


[13:6 — Sept.,  1917 


The  Banded 
Purple  or  White 
Admiral.  — This 
beautiful  and 
striking  butter- 
fly is  quite  local 
in  its  habits  and 
spends  its  whole 
life  near  the 
same  spot.  It 
frequents  shady 
roads.  Its  cater- 


pillar feeds  upon 
birch,  poplar  and 
shadbush. 

The  Red-Spotted 
Purple. — This  is 
not  so  common 
in  the  North  as 
the  banded  pur- 
ple. There  is  a 
form  which  is 
hybrid  between 
the  two  showing 
the  trace  of  the 


The  White  Admiral  or  Banded  Purple 
Expanse  about  .three  inches.  Color  velvety  chooolate- 
blaclc;  the  broad  white  band  across  the  wings 
distinguishes  it  from  other  species. 


white  band 
across  the 
front  wings, 


The  Red-Spotted  Purple 

Expanse  about  three  inches.  Upper  surface  of  wings  vel- 
vety indigo-black  tinged  with  blue  or  green  iridescence. 
The  border  rows  of  spots  on  the  hind  wings  a light 
iridescent  blue.  The  wings  on  the  undersides  show 
many  red  spots. 


while  the  hind 
wings  are  usu- 
ally like  those 
of  this  species. 
Its  caterpillar 


feeds  upon  plum,  thomapple  and  others. 

The  Viceroy. — This  butterfly  has  forsaken  the  dark  uniform  of 
its  family  and  has  put  on  the  dress  of  the  monarch.  This  disguise 
affords  it  protection  from  the  birds  because  the  monarch  is  very1 
distasteful  to  them,  and  they  have  learned  to  avoid  all  butterflies 
which  look  like  it.  The  black  band  across  the  hind  wings  of  the 
viceroy  distinguishes  it  readily  from  the  monarch.  It  is  also  a 


THE  COMMON  BUTTERFLIES 


237 


Photo  by  Dr.  R.  W,  Shufeldt. 

The  Viceroy 

Wings  orange  bordered  with  black  in  which  is  a row  of  white  spots. 
Veins  black.  Black  band  across  hind  wing. 


238 


NA  T U RE-STUD  Y RE  VIE  W [13 :6— Sept. , 1917 


smaller  butterfly.  (See  figure  on  page  237.)  Its  caterpillar  feeds 
upon  willow  and  poplar. 


THE  EMPERORS 


The  Goatweed  Emperor. — This  handsome  orange  red  butterfly 

can  be  distin- 
guished from  all 
others  by  the 
gracefully  ex- 
tended tips  of 
the  front  wings 
and  the  equally 
striking  points 
on  the  hind 
wings.  It  is  a 
middle  western 
and  southern 
species.  Its  cat- 
erpillar is  gray 
It  feeds  upon  goatweed. 


The  Goatweed  Emperor 

The  wings  are  bright-orange  margined  with  brown  with 
an  irregular  paler  band  just  inside  the  brown  margins. 


and  encrusted  with  little  tubercles. 


THE  MEADOW  BROWNS 


These  are  brown  butterflies  which  do  not  attract  much  attention 
from  the  uninitiated,  but  are  very  much  loved  by  any  real  student 


of  butterflies. 

The  Blue-eyed  Grayling  and 
the  Dull-eyed  Grayling. — These 
two  species  blend  into  each 
other,  the  blue-eyed  being  the 
southern  form  and  the  dull- 
eyed the  northern  form.  The 
only  difference  between  the 
two  species  is  that  the  dull- 
eyed grayling  lacks  the  broad 
yellow  band  on  the  front  wings, 
but  almost  every  grade  be- 
tween the  two  species  may  be 
found.  The  caterpillar  attains 
the  length  of  over  one  and  one- 
third  inches.  It  is  green  in 


The  Blue-Eyed  Grayling 
Expanse  two  to  two  and  one-half 
inches.  Color  dull  brown  with  broad 
yellow  bands  crossing  the  front  wings 
outside  the  middle.  In  this  band 
are  two  black  eye-spots,  with  little 
blue  centers;  small  dark  eye-spots  on 
each  hind  wing. 


THE  COMMON  BUTTERFLIES 


239 


color  with  yellowish  stripes  along  each  side.  The  body  is  covered 
with  down,  otherwise  smooth.  The  rear  end  is  forked.  It  feeds 
on  grass. 

The  Eyed-brown. — This  delicate  fawn-colored  butterfly  repays 
well  a little  closer  attention.  Each  velvety  brown  spot  which 
ornaments  the  upper  surface 
of  the  wings  has  a white  center 
like  a bull’s  eye  on  the  lower 
surface.  The  caterpillar  at- 
tains the  length  of  one  and 
one-fourth  inches,  is  greenish 
in  color  and  striped  lengthwise. 

It  is  not  only  forked  at  the 
rear  end,  but  has  a pair  of  red 
horns  at  each  end  of  the  body;  The  Eyed-Brown 

it  hibernates  when  about  Expanse  about  two  inches.  Color  pale 

mouse-brown  with  a row  oi  tour  vel- 
vety brown  spots  along  the  border  of 
the  front  wing  and  five  or  six  smaller 
spots  on  the  hind  wing. 

half  grown.  It  feeds  on  the  coarser 
grasses  and  sedges. 

The  Little  Wood  Satyr. — This  is  a 
jolly  little  butterfly  frequenting  the 
shade  of  thickets  and  groves.  It  is 
single  brooded  and  appears  early  in 
the  season.  The  caterpillar  is  pale 
greenish  brown  and  downy  with 
blackish  lengthwise  stripes  and  it 
feeds  upon  grass. 

TEE  MILKWEED  BUTTERFLIES 

The  Monarch. — This  magnificent  butterfly  is  a monarch  indeed. 
The  birds  will  not  touch  it  and  so  it  is  afraid  of  nothing.  Its  flight 
is  leisurely  and  extends  over  long  distances.  It  does  not  winter 
with  us,  but  comes  to  us  each  year  from  the  South.  In  the  fall  it 
may  be  seen  migrating  back  in  flocks.  Its  caterpillar  is  banded 
crosswise  with  narrow  black  and  yellow  stripes.  At  either  end  of 
the  body  is  a pair  of  whip-lash  like  organs ; it  attains  the  length  of 
two  inches.  It  feeds  on  milkweed;  the  chrysalis  is  plump  and 


Little  Wood  Satyr 
Wings  nearly  uniform  dark 
brown.  The  small  pupils  of 
the  eye-spots  often  double. 
Each  eye-spot  ringed  with  pale 
yellow. 


240 


NATURE-STUDY  REVIEW  [13:6— Sept.,  1917 


A Monarch  Caterpillar 


The  Queen.  — This  is  a 
Florida  species.  Its  wings 
are  chocolate  brown  bordered 
with  black.  The  front  wings  are  sprinkled  with  white  dots  inside 
the  margins.  The  viceroy  in  Florida  imitates  the  queen  in  color. 


comparatively  smooth,  of  an 
exquisite  green  color  orna- 
mented with  dots  of  shining 
gold.  (See  figure  on  first  page.) 


A Monarch  Chrysalis 


THE  LONG-BEAKS 

These  butterflies  are  easily  distinguished  by  their  long  beak-like 
palpi  which  are  from  one-fourth  to  one-half  as  long  as  the  body — 

only  two  species  are  found  in  the 
United  States. 

The  Snout-butterfly. — This  little 
butterfly  looks  as  if  it  had  had  its 
front  wing  tips  snipped  off  with 
curved  scissors.  It  sometimes  oc- 
curs in  swarms  but  is  usually  rather 
, The  Snout-Butterfly  rare.  It  haunts  river  banks  and 
orange  patches  and  white  spots,  marshy  places.  Its  caterpillar  feeds 

upon  hackberry. 

THE  GOSSAMER  WINGS 

These  are  our  smallest  butterflies,  few  of  them  measuring  more 
than  an  inch  across  the  expanded  wings.  They  include  the  hair 
streaks,  coppers  and  blues. 


THE  COMMON  BUTTERFLIES 


241 


THE  HAIR  STREAKS 

These  little  butterflies  are  distinguished  from  others  by  the  long 
tail-like  prolongations  of  the  hind  wings.  They  are  usually  dark 
brown  with  delicate  striped  markings  on  the  lower  surface  of  the 
wings;  some  species  are  brilliantly  marked  with  metallic  blue  or 
green.  About  fifty  species  occur  in  North  America.  A table  for 
determining  the  common  species  is  given  in  How  to  Know  the 
Butterflies  p.  217. 

The  Gray  Hair  Streak. — This  frisky  little  brown  butterfly  has  a 
bright  orange-spot  on  the  hind  wings  and  one  or  two  white  tipped 
tails;  it  also  has  orange  on  the  tip  of  its 
antennae  and  its  head.  Its  caterpillar  is  less 
than  a half  an  inch  long  and  slug-shaped, 
and  is  naked  and  reddish-brown.  It  feeds 
upon  the  fruit  and  seeds  of  hop,  hawthorne, 
hound’s  tongue  and  St.  John’s  wort. 

The  Banded  Hair  Streak. — This  is  our 
commonest  hair  streak.  It  frequents  open- 
ings in  the  woods  especially  scrub  oak  clear- 
ings ; though  dull  in  color  it  has  on  the  inside 
at  the  tip  of  the  hind  wings  a blue  patch 
with  an  orange  patch  on  each  side  of  it. 

Its  caterpillar  is  slug-shaped,  half  an  inch 
long,  grass-green  in  color  and  feeds  on  oak, 
hickory  and  butternut  eating  holes  in  the 
leaves;  it  winters  as  a newly-hatched  caterpillar. 

THE  COPPERS 

These  are  distinguished  from  the  other  gossamer  wings  by  their 
orange-red  and  brown  colors. 

The  Wanderer. — This  lovely  little  butterfly  is  usually  found  near 
alders.  Its  caterpillar  is  rather  wide  in  the  middle  and  pointed  at 
each  end,  about  one-half  inch  in  length;  its  color  is  brown  marked 
with  brownish  stripes.  It  differs  from  the  caterpillars  of  other 
butterflies  in  that  it  is  not  vegetarian,  but  lives  instead,  upon  the 
woolly  plant-lice  which  infest  the  alder  and  thus  is  a very  good 
friend  to  this  tree.  For  figure  see  next  page. 

The  American  Copper. — These  jolly  midgets  flit  about  over 
lawns  almost  always  playing  with  each  other  and  sometimes  even 
daring  to  play  with  us  as  we  cross  their  path.  The  caterpillar  is 


The  Banded  Hair- 


streak 

Expanse  one  and  one- 
fifth  inches.  Color 
dark  brown  or  black- 
ish; lower  side  of  the 
wings  grayish  with 
rows  of  black  spots 
margined  with  white. 
Blue  spot  with  orange 
spot  on  each  side  of 
it  on  the  hind  angle 
of  the  lower  wing. 


242  NAT.  URE-STUDY  REVIEW  [13:6— Sept.,  1917 

slug-shaped,  a half  an  inch  long,  dull  rosy-red  in  color;  it  feeds 
on  sorrel. 


The  Wanderer 


Expanse  a little  over  an  inch.  Color 
dark  brown  with  large  irregular 
orange-yellow  patch  in  the  central 
part  of  the  fore  wing  and  a similar 
patch  on  the  outer  half  of  the  hind 
wing. 


The  American  Copper 
Expanse  about  an  inch.  Color  of 
front  wings  red  with  black  spots 
and  borders;  hind  wings  coppery- 
brown  with  broad  orange-red 
band  on  the  outer  margins. 


THE  BLUES 


The  Spring  Azure. — This  bit  of  a blue  butterfly  comes  to  us  early 
in  the  spring  and  seems  like  a promise  of  blue  skies  and  sunshine. 
Its  caterpillar  is  two-fifths  of  an  inch  in  length,  slug-shaped,  whitish 


bordered  more  or  less  with  black. 

with  dark  brown  head.  It  lives  on  the  flowers  of  dogwood,  sumac, 
spiraea  and  others.  A remarkable  thing  about  the  caterpillar  is 
that  it  bears  an  organ  on  the  back  which  exudes  honeydew;  ants 
feed  upon  this  and  protect  the  caterpillar. 

THE  SKIPPERS 

There  is  a family  of  insects  usually  included  with  the  butterflies 
called  Skippers.  These  are  usually  small  dark  brown  or  dull  yellow 
and  may  be  distinguished  from  the  butterflies  by  the  fact  that  the 
antennae  are  either  hooked  at  the  tips  or  bent  at  an  angle.  The 
character  which  distinguishes  butterflies  from  moths  most  readily 
is  that  the  butterflies  always  have  antennae  which  are  enlarged  at  or 
toward  the  tips.  Knobbed  antennae  they  are  called;  while  the 
antennae  of  moths  may  be  straight  and  simple  or  feather-like.  The 


THE  COMMON  BUTTERFLIES 


243 


antennae  of  the  Skippers  are  enlarged  like  those  of  the  butterflies 

toward  the  tip,  but  the 
knob  is  very  bent  or 
hooked.  The  Skippers 
have  heavy  bodies  and  are 
very  agile  in  flight.  The 
caterpillars  of  the  Skippers 
are  absurd  looking  crea- 
tures, the  neck  being  very 


The  Silver  Spotted  Skipper  Above  the  Nest  of  its  Caterpillar 
Color  chocolate  brown — the  front  wings  marked  with  yellow  and  the 
lower  wings  marked  with  white  on  under  side.  Its  caterpillar  forms 
a nest  by  fastening  together  the  leaflets  of  locust  leaves. 


small  and  the  head  very  large.  They  usually  live  concealed  in  a 
folded  leaf  or  in  a nest  made  of  a few  leaves  fastened  together. 
There  are  about  two  hundred  species  of  Skippers  in  America 


north  of  Mexico  and  they  are  very  difficult  to  determine  except  in 
the  case  of  some  of  the  larger  and  well  marked  species.  In  one 
sub-family  which  are  largely  of  tawny  or  orange  brown  color, 
there  is  an  oblique  dark  patch  across  the  front  wing.  To  another 
sub-family  belong  most  of  the  blackish  or  dark  brown  or  dusky 
winged  Skippers  often  dotted  with  white  or  lighter  yellow  and  which 
have  a little  fold  along  near  the  front  border  of  the  front  wing. 


A male  skipper  with  a 
diagonal  “brand” 
across  the  front  wings. 
Many  of  these  are 
coppery  yellow  and 
brown  in  color. 


The  main  thing  for 
the  beginner  in  the 
study  of  butterflies 
to  achieve  is  to 
know  a Skipper  when 
he  sees  it  and  to 
be  able  to  say  at 
once,  ‘ this  is  a skip- 
per and  not  a butter- 
fly.” 


W 

A ma'e  skipper  with  a 
fold  near  the  front 
margin  of  the  wing. 
Most  of  the  species 
are  dark  brown  marked 
with  white  or  translu- 
cent angular  spots. 


COLOR  KEY  TO  THE  COMMON  BUTTERFLIES 

Based  upon  a Laboratory  Exercise  in  Nature-Study  at  Cornell  University 
By  Helen  M.  Hess 

A.  Large  butterflies — strikingly  black  and  yellow.  Hind  wings 
with  tails. 

B.  Wings  yellow,  margined  with  black  with  four  black  bars 
across  the  front  wing.  Expanse  3-3^  in. 

Tiger  Swallowtail—  Turnus  form 
BB.  Wings  black  above,  yellow  beneath  with  broad  diagonal 
band  of  yellow  from  tip  of  front  wing  across  base  of  hind 
wing.  A row  of  striking  yellow  sub-marginal  spots 
across  hind  wings  and  merging  into  diagonal  band  on 
fore  wing.  Wing  expanse  4-5  in.  Giant  Swallowtail. 
BBB.  Wings  black,  with  double  row  of  yellow  marginal  spots  on 
front  wing,  the  inner  row  making  a yellow  band  across 
the  hind  wing.  Wing  expanse  2^-3  in. 

Black  Swallowtail , male 

AA.  Butterflies  mostly  black.  Wing  expanse  2-3^  in. 

B . Hind  wings  with  tails. 

C.  Front  wings  black  with  pale  spots  near  outer  margin  in 

single  row  and  often  rather  inconspicuous. 

D.  Hind  wings  with  blue  spots  or  green  inside  the  outer 
row  of  yellow  spots. 

1 . Often  six  crescent  shaped  spots  along  the  outside 

of  the  hind  wing.  The  lower  and  especially 
upper  one  orange.  The  others  yellowish. 

Tiger  Swallowtail — Glaucus  form. 

2.  The  pale  marginal  spots  along  outer  margin  of 

hind  wing  all  the  same  color.  An  orange  spot 
at  the  middle  of  front  margin  and  two  orange 
spots  near  inner  angle  of  hind  wing. 
Green-clouded  Swallowtail,  female. 

DD.  The  hind  wings  greenish  and  with  only  one  orange 
spot  at  inner  angle  of  hind  wing. 

Green-clouded  Swallowtail , male. 
DDD.  Hind  wings  metallic  dark  blue.  No  orange  spots  on 
upper  side.  On  the  lower  side  the  marginal  row  of 
spots  orange  below,  pale  above. 

Blue  Swallowtail. 


244 


hess]  COLOR  KEY  TO  THE  COMMON  BUTTERFLIES 


245 


CC.  Front  wings  with  double  row  of  yellow  spots. 

1.  Hind  wing  with  yellow  band  across  the  middle. 

Black  Swallowtail , male. 

2.  Hind  wing  with  a row  of  blue  spots  between  the 

outer  and  inner  row  of  yellow  spots. 

Black  Swallowtail,  female. 

BB.  Hind  wings  without  tails. 

C.  Wings  with  white  markings. 

1.  With  wide  white  band  across  the  middle  of  both 

wings. 

Banded  Purple  or  White  Admiral. 

2.  With  band  across  only  the  front  wings. 

The  Hybrid  Purple. 

3.  Diagonal  red  band  across  front  wings  which  are 

spotted  with  white  near  tips.  Orange  red 
border  to  hind  wings. 

Red  Admiral. 

4.  Wings  bordered  with  orange  yellow  spots  and 

outer  third  checkered  with  cream  white. 
Rather  small. 

The  Baltimore. 

5.  Small  blackish  butterflies,  peppered  with  white, 

with  tips  of  antennae  bent.  Belong  to  the 
family  of 

Skippers. 

CC.  Wings  with  no  white  markings. 

1.  Hind  wings  with  border  of  three  rows  of  blue  or 

greenish  spots,  and  underneath  a border  of 
seven  orange  spots  just  within  a double  row  of 
blue  or  green  spots'. 

The  Red-spotted  Purple. 

2.  Wings  with  brownish  tinge  with  broad  border  of 

pale  yellow.  Just  inside  the  border  a row  of 
blue  or  purplish  spots. 

The  Mourning  Cloak. 

AAA.  Butterflies  with  general  color  of  copper  red  or  brick  color. 

B.  Large,  with  wing  expanse  of  2 to  4 inches. 

C.  Veins  completely  outlined  with  black. 

1.  With  no  transverse  black  band  across  hind  wing. 

The  Monarch. 


246 


NATURE-STUDY  REVIEW  [13:6— Sept.,  1917 


2 . With  transverse  black  band  across  hind  wing. 

The  Viceroy. 

CC.  Veins  outlined  with  black  near  outer  border.  Large 
silvery  spots  on  underside  of  hind  wing. 

The  Gulf  Fritillary. 

CCC.  Veins  not  outlined  in  black.  Wings  coppery,  checkered 
and  spotted  with  black.  Inner  half  of  wings  dark 
brown . N o white  markings . 

D.  Under  sides  of  hind  wings  with  large  silver  spots. 

1 . A broad  buff  band  inside  the  border  of  silver  spots 

on  lower  side  of  hind  wing. 

The  Great  Spangled  Fritillary. 

2.  A narrow  buff  band  inside  the  outer  row  of  silver 

spots  on  border  of  under  surface  of  hind  wing. 
The  band  not  so  wide  as  the  silver  spots  in 
border. 

The  Silver-spot  Fritillary. 

DD.  Under  side  of  the  wings  marbled  in  yellowish  and 
browns. 

The  Variegated  Fritillary. 

CCCC.  Front  wings  coppery,  checkered  with  black.  Hind 
wings  black  with  lighter  spots.  Very  large  butterfly. 
Expanse  4 inches.  The  front  yrings  orange  beneath, 
the  hind  wings  olive  brown  with  about  thirty  large 
silvery  white  spots. 

The  Regal  Fritillary. 

CCCCC.  Orange  red  with  tips  of  front  wings  prolonged  with 
curved  points  and  with  short  tail  on  hind  wing. 

1.  Narrow  margin  of  brown  borders  the  wings.  A 

small  dark  spot  in  middle  of  margin  of  front 
wing.  Goatwecd  Emperor , male. 

2 . Broad  border  of  brown  with  paler  orange  inside  it, 

and  brown  spots  inside  this  pale  band. 

Goatweed  Emperor , female. 

CCCCCC.  Copper  red  and  black  butterflies  with  tips  of  front 
wings  blackish,  spotted  with  white. 

D.  Hind  half  of  lower  side  of  front  wings  rose  color. 

1.  Lower  side  of  hind  wing  showing  two  eye-spots 
within  the  border. 


The  Painted  Beauty. 


hess]  COLOR  KEY  TO  THE  COMMON  BUTTERFLIES 


247 


2.  Lower  side  of  hind  wing  showing  four  eye-spots 
. within  the  border. 

The  Cosmopolitan. 

DD.  Copper  red,  diagonal  band  across  front  wings, 
which  is  vivid  rose  red  below;  red  border  to 
hind  wing.  Red  Admiral. 

BB.  Smallish  copper  red  or  copper  yellow  and  black  butter- 
flies. Wing  expanse  from  C/2  to  1^4  inches. 

C.  Copper  red  checkered  with  black  above.  Edges  of 
wings  not  notched. 

1.  Lower  side  of  hind  wing  with  silver  spots. 

Silver-bordered  Fritillary. 

2.  Lower  side  of  wings  with  no  silver  spots. 

Meadow  Fritillary. 

CC.  Orange  with  black  border  and  many  black  irregular 
markings.  Margin  of  wings  not  notched.  Lower 
side  of  wings  marbled  with  yellows  and  browns. 

1.  A distinct  narrow  yellow  line  bordering  lower 

sides  of  wings. 

The  Silver  Crescent. 

2.  No  distinct  yellow  line  bordering  lower  sides  of 

wings.  The  Pearl  Crescent. 

CCC.  Copper  red  and  black  butterflies.  The  edges  of  the 
wings  notched  and  under  sides  of  wings  marbled 
browns  of  different  shades. 

D.  With  a white  “initial”  at  center  of  lower  side  of  hind 
wing. 

1.  The  initial  of  two  silvery  marks,  a crescent 
white  line  and  a dot.  Wings  above  bordered 
with  lavender 

The  Violet  Tip. 

2.  The  outer  third  of  the  lower  surface  of  the 
wings  variegated  with  olive  green.  The 
initial  a C or  a G. 

The  Green  Comma. 

3.  Outer  third  of  the  lower  surface  of  the  wings 
variegated  with  wood  brown.  The  initial 
also  a C or  a G. 


The  Hop  Merchant. 


248 


NATURE-STUDY  REVIEW  [13:6— Sept.,  1917 


4.  The  marbled  surface  of  the  under  side  of  the 
wings  crossed  by  many  fine  ashen  lines.  The 
initial  an  L.  The  Gray  Comma. 

DD.  With  no  initial  on  hind  wings. 

1 .  Wings  blackish  with  a broad  oranged  red  band 
marking  the  outer  half  of  both  wings. 

The  American  Tortoise  Shell. 

BBB.  Very  small  copper  red  or  coppery  yellow  butterflies,  not 
expanding  over  one  inch. 

1.  Front  wings  copper  red,  spotted  with  black  and 
outer  margin  blackish.  Hind  wings  dark  with  bright 
copper  outer  border. 

American  Copper. 

2 . Front  wings  dark  brown  with  large  irregular  orange 

yellow  patch  over  the  middle.  The  hind  wings 
brown  with  orange  yellow  patch  extending  for- 
ward from  hind  margin.  The  Wanderer. 

A AAA.  White  butterflies. 

B .  With  front  wings  tipped  with  black. 

1.  With  two  spots  on  front  wing. 

Cabbage  Butterfly , female. 

2.  With  one  spot  on  front  wing. 

Cabbage  Butterfly , male. 

3 . With  black  blotch  at  middle  of  margin  of  front  wing. 

Olympia  Orange  Tip. 

BB.  With  front  wings  prolonged  at  tip  to  a hook. 

1.  Wings  tipped  with  orange. 

Falcate  Orange  Tip,  male. 

2.  Front  wings  bordered  with  delicate  black  spots. 

Falcate  Orange  Tip,  female. 

A A AAA.  Butterflies  conspicuously  yellow. 

B.  With  tails  to  the  hind  wings. 

1 . Large,  with  black  border  and  four  black  bars  extend- 
ing back  from  front  margin  of  front  wing. 

Tiger  Swallowtail,  Turnus  form. 

BB.  Hind  wings  without  tails.  Expanse  2 inches  or  less. 

C.  With  black  border  on  outer  margin  of  wings. 

D.  Lemon  yellow. 

1.  With  outer  black  border  unbroken. 

Roadside  male. 


hess]  COLOR  KEY  TO  THE  COMMON  BUTTERFLIES 


249 


2.  With  black  border  on  front  wing  broken  with 

yellow  spots.  Roadside  female. 

3 . With  deep  black  border  outlining  the  profile  of  a 

head,  and  with  black  base  to  front  wing. 

The  Dog's  Head. 

4.  With  outer  border  unbroken.  A small  butterfly 

only  one  inch  in  expanse. 

Little  Sulphur. 

DD.  Orange  yellow  butterflies. 

1 . The  black  border  unbroken  and  with  oval  spot  at 

center  of  front  wing  near  margin. 

Orange  Sulphur. 

2.  Black  border  unbroken  in  male  but  fading  out  on 

the  hind  portion  of  the  hind  wings  in  the  female. 
Spot  at  middle  of  front  wing,  near  margin  a 
mere  line. 

The  Sleepy  Yellow. 

CC.  Lemon  yellow  with  no  solid  black  border.  Large  butter- 
fly 2}4  inches  in  expanse. 

1.  With  black  spots  bordering  the  wings  and  with 

round  spot  at  the  front  middle  of  front  wing. 

Cloudless  Sulphur , female. 

2 . With  no  black  spots  of  any  kind,  just  pure  yellow. 

Cloudless  Sulphur , male. 

AAA  AAA . Butterflies  conspicuously  brown  or  gray. 

B.  Rather  large  with  an  expanse  of  2 to  2%  inches,  with  no 
tails  on  hind  wings. 

C.  With  one  large  eye-spot  and  one  very  small  one  on  front 
wings,  and  with  one  large  and  one  small  eye-spot  on 
hind  wings. 

1 . Diagonal  band  of  yellow  across  tips  of  front  wing 
and  two  copper  red  bars  extending  back  from 
the  margin  of  front  wing.  Copper  red  near 
margin  of  hind  wing. 

The  Buckeye. 

CC.  With  two  equal  sized  eye-spots  on  front  wings. 
Expanse  2 inches. 

1.  With  the  eye  spots  on  the  front  wing  set  in  a band 
of  yellow. 


The  Blue  Eyed  Grayling. 


NATURE-STUDY  REVIEW  [13:6— Sept.,  1917 

2.  With  no  band  of  yellow  surrounding  eye-spots  on 
front  wing. 

Dull  Eyed  Grayling. 

3.  The  eye-spots  on  front  wing  each  surrounded  by 
yellow  ring  or  set  in  yellow  patch. 

Hybrid  Grayling. 

With  two  equal  spots  on  front  wing.  Expanse  D/i 
inches.  With  two  eye-spots  on  hind  wings  and  some- 
times a smaller  one. 

Little  Wood  Satyr. 

With  four  small  eye-spots  in  a row  on  front  wings. 
With  five  small  eye-spots  along  margin  of  hind  wing. 

The  Eyed  Brown. 

BB.  Small  butterflies  with  thread-like  tails  or  with  short  pro- 
jections on  hind  wings. 

The  Hair  Streaks. 

BBB.  Small  butterflies  without  projections  on  hind  wings. 
With  rather  heavy  bodies  and  antennas  bent  at  the  tip. 

The  Skippers. 

AAAAAAA.  Butterflies  blue  or  marked  conspicuously  with  blue. 
B.  Small  butterflies  mostly  blue. 

C.  Without  tails  to  hind  wings. 

1.  Lower  sides  of  wings  pale  ash  gray.  Expanse 
about  one  inch.  The  Spring  Azure. 

CC.  With  tail-like  prolongation  to  hind  wings. 

Hair  Streaks. 

B B . Large  black  butterflies  without  tails  to  hind  wings , marked 
with  double  row  of  blue  spots  near  border  of  hind  wings. 

The  Banded  Purple. 

BBB.  Large  butterflies  with  tails  to  hind  wings. 

1.  Black  butterflies,  sheen  on  hind  wings  blue  or 

greenish  blue.  Blue  Swallowtail. 

Green-clouded  Swallowtail . 

2 . Black  butterflies  with  blue  spots  on  hind  wings. 

Glaucus  form  of  Tiger  Swallowtail. 
Black  Swallowtail , female. 

BBBB.  Black  butterfly  with  slight  tail  like  prolongation  on 
hind  wings.  With  yellow  border  and  row  of  blue 
spots  inside  of  it. 


cca 


cccc. 


Mourning  Cloak. 


Swallowtails 


Pierids 


Check  list 
of  Fifty- 
Common 
Butterflies 


Nymphs 


" Tiger 
Black 
Zebra 
Giant 

Green-clouded 

Blue 


" Whites  Cabbage 
Orange  tips  Falcate 


u Yellows 


Roadside 
Sleepy  Yellow 
Dog’s  Head 
Little  Sulphur 
Orange  Sulphur 
Cloudless  Sulphur 


Fritillaries 


- Great  Spangled 
Silver  spot 
Regal 

Gulf 

Variegated 

Meadow 

- Silver-bordered 


Crescent 

Spots 


Angle- 

wings 


r Pearl 
Silver 
u Baltimore 


Mourning  Cloak 
American  Tortoise 
Compton  Tortoise 
Buckeye 

I Red  Admiral 


Thistle 

Butterflies 


Painted  Beauty 
Cosmopolite 


{Violet  Tip 
Hop  Merchant 
Gray  Comma 
Green  Comma 


Meadow 

Browns 

The  Milkweed 
Long  Beaks 

The  Gossamer 
Wings 


{Banded  purple 
Hybrid  purple 
Red-Spotted  purple 
Viceroy 

- Emperors  j Goatweed  Emperor 

{Blue-eyed  Grayling 
Dull-eyed  Grayling 
Eyed  Brown 
Little  Wood  Satyr 
/ Monarch 
1 Queen 

{ The  Snout  Butterfly 

/ Gray  Hair  Streak 
Hair  Streaks  \ Banded  Hair  Streak 

W-  | America?  Copper 

[ Blues  ^ Spring  Azure 


Photo  by  Dr.  R.  W.  Shufeldt 

Two  Monarch  Butterflies  on  Goldenrod 


The  Mourning  Cloak  caterpillars  are  sociable  even  when 
changing  to  chrysalids 


HOW  TO  KNOW 
THE  BUTTERFLIES 

A Manual  of  the  Butterflies  of  the  Eastern  United  States,  by 

JOHN  HENRY  COMSTOCK 

Emeritus  Professor  of  Entomology,  Cornell  University 
AND 

ANNA  BOTSFORD  COMSTOCK 

Assistant  Professor  of  Nature  Study,  Cornell  University 

This  work  contains  descriptions  of  152  species  and  varieties 
of  butterflies.  This  includes  all  of  the  species  and  their  named 
varieties  found  in  the  eastern  half  of  the  United  States  ex- 
cepting a few  extremely  rare  forms. 

There  are  45  plates  with  312  figures  showing  the  insects  in 
their  natural  colors  and  49  figures  in  the  text. 

The  work  is  written  in  popular  form  without  being  super- 
ficial, and  will  serve  as  a Baedeker  among  Butterflies  to  the 
casual  observer  or  the  close  student  of  this  most  pictur- 
esque phase  of  nature. 

The  Comstock  Publishing  Company 

Ithaca,  New  York 


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The  Nature  Notebook  Series 

Edited  by  ANNA  BOTSFORD  COMSTOCK 
Assistant  Professor  of  Nature  Study,  Cornell  University 


BIRD  NOTES  No.  1 ( 
BIRD  NOTES  No.  2 \ 


A.  B.  Comstock 


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INSECT  NOTES  - - - ; - J.  G.  Needham 

With  outline  drawings  of  60  insects  on  watercolor  paper 

FISH  NOTES  - - - - - G.  C.  Embody 

With  outline  drawings  of  50  common  fishes  on  watercolor  paper 

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